US10793533B2 - Dimeric contrast agents - Google Patents

Dimeric contrast agents Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US10793533B2
US10793533B2 US16/468,035 US201716468035A US10793533B2 US 10793533 B2 US10793533 B2 US 10793533B2 US 201716468035 A US201716468035 A US 201716468035A US 10793533 B2 US10793533 B2 US 10793533B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
formula
alkyl
compound according
group
mmol
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US16/468,035
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20200017453A1 (en
Inventor
Valeria Boi
Roberta Napolitano
Luciano Lattuada
Giovanni Battista Giovenzana
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bracco Imaging SpA
Original Assignee
Bracco Imaging SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/EP2016/080621 external-priority patent/WO2017098044A1/fr
Application filed by Bracco Imaging SpA filed Critical Bracco Imaging SpA
Assigned to BRACCO IMAGING S.P.A. reassignment BRACCO IMAGING S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BOI, Valeria, GIOVENZANA, GIOVANNI BATTISTA, LATTUADA, LUCIANO, NAPOLITANO, ROBERTA
Publication of US20200017453A1 publication Critical patent/US20200017453A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US10793533B2 publication Critical patent/US10793533B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D257/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing rings having four nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms
    • C07D257/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing rings having four nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms not condensed with other rings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
    • A61K49/10—Organic compounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
    • A61K49/10—Organic compounds
    • A61K49/101—Organic compounds the carrier being a complex-forming compound able to form MRI-active complexes with paramagnetic metals
    • A61K49/106—Organic compounds the carrier being a complex-forming compound able to form MRI-active complexes with paramagnetic metals the complex-forming compound being cyclic, e.g. DOTA
    • A61K49/108—Organic compounds the carrier being a complex-forming compound able to form MRI-active complexes with paramagnetic metals the complex-forming compound being cyclic, e.g. DOTA the metal complex being Gd-DOTA
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
    • A61K49/10—Organic compounds
    • A61K49/12—Macromolecular compounds
    • A61K49/122—Macromolecular compounds dimers of complexes or complex-forming compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D403/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D401/00
    • C07D403/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D401/00 containing two hetero rings
    • C07D403/12—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D401/00 containing two hetero rings linked by a chain containing hetero atoms as chain links

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of diagnostic imaging and to novel contrast agents possessing improved relaxivity. More in particular, it relates to dimeric macrocycles capable of chelating paramagnetic metal ions, their chelated complexes with metal ions and the use thereof as contrast agents in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  • MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a renowned diagnostic imaging technique increasingly used in clinical diagnostics for growing number of indications.
  • the contrast is basically due to differences existing in the longitudinal T1 and the transverse T2 relaxation times of the water protons in the different body organs and tissues, which allows the in-vivo acquisition of high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the distribution of water.
  • the intensity of the signal recorded in MRI imaging stems, essentially, from the local value of the longitudinal relaxation rate 1/T1, and the transverse rate, 1/T2 of water protons, and increases with increasing of the 1/T1 value (of the longitudinal relaxation rate of water protons) while decreases with the increase of 1/T2.
  • T1 the longitudinal relaxation rate
  • 1/T2 the transverse rate
  • MRI contrast agents that act by causing a dramatic variation of nearby water proton relaxation rates in the tissues/organs/fluids wherein they distributes, thus adding relevant physiological information to the impressive anatomical resolution commonly obtained in the uncontrasted MRI images.
  • Contrast agents used in the MRI imaging technique typically include a paramagnetic metal ion which is complexed with a cyclic or acyclic chelating ligand, more typically a polyaminopolycarboxylic chelator.
  • the most important class of MRI contrast agents is represented by the Gd(III) chelates which are currently used in about 1 ⁇ 3 of the clinical tests. Indeed, Gd(III) is highly paramagnetic with seven unpaired electrons and a long electronic relaxation time, making it an excellent candidate as a relaxation agent.
  • the free metal ion [Gd(H 2 O) 8 ] 3+ is extremely toxic for living organism even at low doses (10-20 micromol/Kg).
  • a Gd(III) complex shall display a high thermodynamic (and possibly kinetic) stability in order to prevent the release of toxic metal ion.
  • Preferred MRI contrast agent should furthermore display optimal relaxivity.
  • Relaxivity (r 1p , r 2p ), expressed in mM ⁇ 1 s ⁇ 1 and usually measured at 298K and 20 MHz (approx. 0.5 T), is the intrinsic property of a paramagnetic complex which characterizes its capability to increase the nuclear magnetic relaxation rate, longitudinal (1/T 1 ) and transverse (1/T 2 ) respectively, of vicinal water protons and, thus, its efficacy as MRI contrast enhancing agent.
  • the higher the relaxivity of an MRI contrast agent the greater its contrast enhancing capability and the stronger the contrast provided in recorded MRI images.
  • MRI contrast agents examples include the complex compound of the Gd 3+ ion with the DTPA ligand, marketed as MAGNEVIST®; the Gd 3+ complex of the DTPA-BMA ligand, marketed as OMNISCAN®; the Gd 3+ complex of BOPTA, known as gadobenate Dimeglumine and marketed as MultiHanceTM; the Gd 3+ complex of the DOTA ligand, marketed as DOTAREM®; the Gd 3+ complex of the hydroxylated tetraaza macrocyclic ligand known as HPDO3A, long time marketed as ProHance®, and that of the corresponding butyl-triol derivative, known as Gadobutrol and marketed ad Gadavist®. All the above contrast agents comprise a single chelating unit, and are Non-Specific Agents (NSA), designed for a general use.
  • NSA Non-Specific Agents
  • compounds with improved relaxivity could reduce the required dose of the paramagnetic contrast agent and possibly shorten the acquisition time of the imaging process.
  • the present invention generally relates to novel macrocyclic chelating ligands useful for the preparation of paramagnetic complexes having particularly favorable characteristics, among others in terms of improved relaxivity.
  • an aspect of the present invention relates to novel dimeric ligands comprising two tetraaza macrocyclic units having a hydroxylated residue on a nitrogen atom of the macrocyclic chelating cage linked to one another through an aminic moiety.
  • the invention further relates to respective chelated complexes of said chelating ligands with a paramagnetic metal ion and, especially, with Gd 3+ , or of a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to the use of such chelated complexes as contrast agents, in particular for the diagnostic imaging of a human or animal body organ or tissue by use of the MRI technique.
  • the invention relates to a manufacturing process for the preparation of the provided ligands, their complex compounds with a paramagnetic metal ion, and the pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof and their use in the preparation of a diagnostic agent.
  • the invention relates to a pharmaceutically acceptable composition
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising at least one paramagnetic complex compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients.
  • Said compositions are useful in particular as MRI contrast media, to provide diagnostically useful images of human or animal body organs or tissues.
  • the present invention refers to a method for the diagnostic imaging of a body organ, tissue or region by use of MRI technique that comprises the use of an effective dose of a compound of the invention.
  • An object of the present invention are chelating ligands of formula (I)
  • R 1 is H.
  • alkyl comprises within its meaning any linear or branched hydrocarbon chain derived from the corresponding hydrocarbon by removal of one hydrogen atom, preferably comprising up to 30 carbon atoms.
  • C 1 -C 30 alkyl comprises within its meaning a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms such as: methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-pentyl, tert-pentyl, hexyl, iso-hexyl, heptyl, iso-heptyl, octyl, and the like.
  • C 1 -C 3 alkyl comprises within its meaning a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as, for instance, methyl, ethyl, propyl and iso-propyl;
  • C 1 -C 5 alkyl comprises within its meaning a linear or branched chain comprising from 1 to 5 carbon atoms such as: methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-pentyl, tert-pentyl, and the like.
  • hydroxyalkyl comprises within its meaning any of the above corresponding alkyl moiety wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by hydroxyl groups. Suitable examples include C 1 -C 3 hydroxyalkyl such as hydroxymethyl (—CH 2 OH), hydroxyethyl (—CH 2 CH 2 OH), hydroxypropyl (—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH), dihydroxypropyl, (—CH(CH 2 OH) 2 and —CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH) and the like.
  • alkoxy comprises within its meaning an alkyl moiety as above defined further comprising one or more oxygen atoms; examples include, for instance, alkyl-oxy (or -Oalkyl) groups such as methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy and the like, and alkyl-(poly)oxy in which the alkyl chain is interrupted by one or more, e.g. up to 10, oxygen atoms, for instance including linear alkyl(poly)oxy e.g. of formula —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O—) r R 3 in which r is an integer from 1 to 8 an R 3 is a C 1 -C 3 alkyl e.g.
  • linear alkyl(poly)oxy for instance include the groups of formula —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 OCH 3 , and the like; while examples of branched alkyl(poly)oxy for instance include the groups of formula —OCH(CH 2 OCH 3 ) 2 , —OCH(CH 2 OCH(CH 2 OCH 3 ) 2 ) 2 , —OCH(CH 2 OCH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , —OCH(CH 2 OCH(CH 2 OCH
  • hydroxyalkoxy comprises within its meaning any of the above alkyloxy residues further comprising one or more hydroxyl (—OH) in the alkyl chain.
  • Suitable example for instance include the groups of the above general formulas —O[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] s (R 3 ) s+1 and —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O—) r R 3 in which R 3 is H, such as, for example,
  • protecting group designates a protective group adapted for preserving the function of the group to which it is bound.
  • protective groups are used to preserve amino, hydroxyl or carboxyl functions.
  • Appropriate carboxyl protective groups may thus include, for example, benzyl, alkyl e.g. tert-butyl or benzyl esters, or other substituents commonly used for the protection of such functions, which are all well known to those skilled in the art [see, for a general reference, T. W. Green and P. G. M. Wuts; Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis , Wiley, N.Y. 1999, third edition].
  • moiety or “moieties”, “residue” or “residues” are herewith intended to define the residual portion of a given molecule once properly attached or conjugated, either directly or through any suitable linker, to the rest of the molecule.
  • unit(s) particularly when referred to —[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] or —(CH 2 CH 2 O—), refers to groups of atoms which may be repeated two or more times in a sequence.
  • terminal unit(s) refers to the unit terminating said sequence.
  • the compounds of the above formula (I) may have one or more asymmetric carbon atom, otherwise referred to as a chiral carbon atom, and may thus give rise to diastereomers and optical isomers. Unless otherwise provided, the present invention further includes all such possible diastereomers as well as their racemic mixtures, their substantially pure resolved enantiomers, and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof.
  • each of the carboxylic groups R linked to the nitrogen atoms of the tetraaza macrocycles may be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or of a derivative in which the acidic group is suitably protected with an appropriate protecting group (Pg) as above defined, e.g., preferably, of a C 1 -C 5 alkyl ester and, more preferably, of a tert-butyl ester, finding for instance application as such, or as suitable precursor or intermediate compound in the preparation of a desided compound of formula (I) or of a suitable paramagnetic complex or salt thereof.
  • Pg protecting group
  • the invention relates to dimeric compounds of formula (I) in which d is 0.
  • Suitable examples include dimers of formula (II)
  • n 1 or 2;
  • R 2 is as defined for compounds of formula (I).
  • R 2 is a C 1 -C 5 alkyl substituted by a single group X.
  • Suitable examples include dimeric compounds in which R 2 is a group of formula —(CH 2 ) p —X where p is an integer from 1 to 5 and X is a group as said for compounds of formula (I), in which r and s are not 1.
  • the invention relates to dimeric compounds of formula (III)
  • n is 1 or 2
  • p is an integer from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3.
  • X is the group of formula —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O—) r R 3 .
  • Suitable examples include compounds of formula (III A)
  • n and R 3 are as defined for compounds of formula (I), p is an integer from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3, and r is an integer from 2 to 8.
  • n 1 or 2;
  • p is 1, 2, or 3, preferably, is 1 or 2 and, most preferably, is 2;
  • r is an integer from 2 to 8 and, preferably from 2 to 5;
  • R 3 is H, or a C 1 -C 3 alkyl, such as ethyl or methyl.
  • the invention relates to dimeric compounds of formula (III A) in which R 3 is H, p is 2 and r is from 2 to 4, more preferably 3.
  • the invention relates to compounds of formula (III) in which X is a group of formula —O—[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] s (R 3 ) s+1 .
  • Suitable examples include dimeric compounds of formula (III B)
  • n and R 3 are as defined for the compounds of formula (I).
  • p is 1, 2, or 3, more preferably 1 or 2
  • R 3 is H or a C 1 -C 3 alkyl, such as ethyl or methyl.
  • the invention relates to compounds of formula (II) in which R 2 is a C 1 -C 5 alkyl substituted by two or three groups X.
  • Suitable examples include compounds of formula (II) in which R 2 is a linear or branched disubstituted C 1 -C 5 alkyl, e.g. selected from
  • the invention relates to dimeric compounds comprising two alkoxy or hydroxyalkoxy groups, having the following formula (IV)
  • n 1 or 2 and X is as said for compounds of formula (I).
  • the invention relates to compounds according to the above formulas from (IV) to (VI) in which X is a group of formula —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) r —R 3 .
  • r is an integer from 1 to 8, preferably from 1 to 5 and, more preferably, is 2, 3 or 4; n is 1 or 2, and
  • R 3 is H or a C 1 -C 3 alkyl, such as ethyl or methyl.
  • the invention relates to compounds according to the above formulas from (IV) to (VI) in which X is a group of formula —O—[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] s (R 3 ) s+1 .
  • n and R 3 are as said for compounds of formula 1 and s is 2 or, more preferably, is 1.
  • the invention relates to dimeric compounds of formula (I) in which d is 1.
  • Suitable examples include dimers of formula (VII)
  • Suitable examples include the compounds according to the above formula (VII) in which R 2 is as in each of the compounds of formula from (III) to (VI), including the compounds according to each of the corresponding formulas (III A) to (VI A) and (III B) to (VI B).
  • p is an integer from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3, and, most preferably, is 2;
  • r is an integer from 1 to 8, preferably from 1 to 5 and, more preferably, is 2, 3 or 4; n is 1 or 2, and
  • R 3 is H or a C 1 -C 3 alkyl, such as ethyl or methyl.
  • R 3 in the above compounds of formula (I) hence encompassing those of formulae from (II) to (X), R 3 (in R 2 or X groups) is a C 1 -C 3 alkyl such as ethyl or, more preferably methyl, and the invention relates to dimeric compounds comprising one or more alkyl(poly)oxy groups of formula —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O—) r CH 3 in which r is an integer from 1 to 8 and more preferably is 2, 3, 4 or 5, or of formula —O—[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] s CH 3 , in which s is 1 or 2.
  • R 3 is H and the invention relates to dimeric compounds comprising one or more hydroxyalkoxy group(s) of formula —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O—) r H in which r is an integer from 1 (or 2) to 8 and more preferably, is 2, 3, 4 or 5, or of formula —O[CH(CH 2 O—) 2 ] s H in which s is 1 or 2.
  • n is 1.
  • Particularly preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (I), or salts thereof, selected from the group consisting of:
  • the invention relates to chelated complexes of the compounds of formula (I), hence encompassing those of formulae from (II) to (X), with two paramagnetic metal ions, or radionuclides, or of a suitable salt thereof.
  • the paramagnetic metal ions are equal to each other, and are selected in the group consisting of Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Cr 3+ , Gd 3+ , Eu 3+ , Dy 3+, La 3+ , Yb 3+ or Mn 2+ . More preferably, both the chelated paramagnetic metal ions are Gd 3+ ions.
  • Preferred radionuclides according to the invention providing complexes for use in radiotherapy or radiodiagnostics include 105 Rh, 117m Sn, 99m Tc, 94m Tc, 203 Pb, 67 Ga, 68 Ga, 44 Sc, 72 As, 110 In, 111 In, 113 In, 90 Y, 97 Ru, 60 Cu, 62 Cu, 64 Cu, 52 Fe, 51 Mn, 140 La, 175 Yb, 153 Sm, 166 Ho, 149 Pm, 177 Lu, 186/188 Re, 165 Dy, 166 Dy, 142 Pr, 159 Gd, 211 Bi, 212 Bi, 213 Bi, 214 Bi, 149 Pm, 67 Cu, 198 Au, 199 Au, 161 Tb, 167 Tm, and 51 Cr.
  • the compounds of formula (I) of the invention can also be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, particularly as an addition salt with a physiologically compatible base or acid.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable salt refers to derivatives of the compounds of the invention wherein the parent compound is suitably modified by converting any of the free acid or basic groups, if present, into the corresponding addition salt with any base or acid conventionally intended as being pharmaceutically acceptable.
  • Preferred cations of inorganic bases which can be suitably used to prepare a salt of the complexes or the ligands of the invention comprise, for instance, ions of alkali or alkaline-earth metals such as potassium, sodium, calcium or magnesium.
  • Preferred cations of organic bases comprise, for instance, those of primary, secondary and tertiary amines such as, for instance, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, morpholine, glucamine, N-methylglucamine, N,N-dimethylglucamine.
  • Preferred anions of inorganic acids which can be suitably used to prepare salts of the complexes of the invention comprise the ions of halo acids, for instance chlorides, bromides or iodides, as well as of other suitable ions such as sulfate.
  • Preferred anions of organic acids comprise those routinely used in pharmaceutical techniques for the preparation of salts of basic substances such as, for instance, acetate, succinate, citrate, fumarate, maleate or oxalate.
  • Preferred cations and anions of amino acids comprise, for instance, those of taurine, glycine, lysine, arginine, ornithine or of aspartic and glutamic acids.
  • the term “intermediate” refers to a molecule that requires one (or more) further reactions, e.g. deprotection/alkylation reaction(s) converting any optional protected nitrogen atom(s) of the bridging molecule 2 in the corresponding alkylated derivative(s), to give the desired product, i.e. in the specific case of the above general scheme, a suitably protected dimeric compound of formula (I) according to step d).
  • the single steps of the above general process, comprehensive of any variant thereof, particularly when referring to the steps of protection/deprotection and activation of known functional groups, may be carried out according to conventional methods known in the art.
  • bridging molecules 2 for the use of the invention are commercially available, or may easily be prepared according to procedures known to those skilled in the relevant art.
  • Suitable examples may for instance comprises an amine of formula NH 2 R 2 or diamine of formula NH(R 2 )—CH 2 CH 2 —NH(R 2 ) in which R 2 is as defined for compounds of formula (I), or suitable functional derivative thereof, or precursor thereof, e.g. having a protecting group Pg on the nitrogen atom(s) in the place of R 2 , that are commercially available or may be easily obtained according to synthetic procedure known to those skilled in the relevant art.
  • the complexation of the compounds of formula (I) e.g. obtained from step f) of former general preparation scheme with a paramagnetic ion and, particularly, with gadolinium may be performed, for instance, by stoichiometric addition of a suitable Gd(III) derivative, particularly a Gd(III) salt or oxide, to a solution of the ligand, e.g. by working according to well-known experimental methods, for instance as reported in EP 230893.
  • a suitable Gd(III) derivative particularly a Gd(III) salt or oxide
  • Optional salification of the chelating ligands of the invention, or of chelates with bivalent metal ions, may be carried out by properly converting any of the free acidic groups into the corresponding pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
  • the operative conditions being employed for the optional salification of the compounds of the invention are all within the ordinary knowledge of the skilled person.
  • dimeric compounds according to the invention may conveniently be prepared by using the synthetic procedure schematized in the following general Scheme 1
  • the bridging molecule 2 is reacted with two units of substrate 1A to give an intermediate 3 in which the nitrogen atom (of the bridging moiety) is in a protected form, which is first deprotected and then alkylated with the appropriate R 2 group to give the protected dimer of formula (II) that after cleavage of carboxyl-protecting groups is complexed with the gadolinium metal ion to give the desired bis-Gd complex of formula (II).
  • Lg represents a leaving group such as OMs, OTs, Br, I and, preferably, Cl is first obtained, e.g. by reaction of the commercially available epichlorydrin with the substrate 1A, as described in details in the experimental section, which is then reacted with the appropriated amine R 2 —NH 2 leading to the compound of formula 3 having protected carboxyls groups, that is then deprotected and complexed as above said.
  • Dimers of formula (I) according to the present invention include two tetraaza macrocycles each having a hydroxylated arm on a nitrogen atom of the macrocyclic cage, linking them to each other by means of an aminic moiety comprising one or two —N(R 2 )— group(s).
  • Dimeric paramagnetic complexes according to the invention having these peculiar structural components have proved to display high relaxivity and stability.
  • Relaxivity r 1p values measured for some representative complex compounds of formula (I) are provided in Table A of the experimental section, by comparison with r 1p values measured, at the same conditions, for some known MRI contrast agents currently used in the diagnostic daily practice, e.g. including Gd-DOTA, marketed as DOTAREM®, and Gd-HPDO3A marketed as ProHance®.
  • relaxivity data hence including those of the table A, are expressed in terms of gadolinium concentration (mM).
  • relaxivity r 1p values measured for the dimeric complex compounds of the invention are at least to 2 times higher than that recorded for commercial contrast agent of the market (at the same gadolinium concentration).
  • the paramagnetic complex compounds of the formula (I) of the invention display a relaxivity r 1p value measured in human plasma, at 37° C. and approx. 1.4 T, which is of at least about 8, preferably higher than 9, and more preferably, higher than 10 mM ⁇ 1 s ⁇ 1 -(normalized, as said, to the gadolinium).
  • paramagnetic complex compounds of the invention have proven to display a low if not negligible protein binding with human plasma proteins, including, for instance, the HSA.
  • the high relaxivity displayed by the agents of the invention may allow to reduce their diagnostically effective dose, as compared to current contrast agents.
  • Paramagnetic complexes and, especially, gadolinium complexes of the compounds of formula (I), or the pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof thus find advantageous use in the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations intended for a general use in the diagnostic imaging of a human or animal body organ, tissue or region either in vivo or in vitro, ex vivo.
  • the invention relates to the use of the compounds of formula (I) in the form of complexes with a paramagnetic metal ion and, especially, gadolinium, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for use in the diagnostic imaging, either in vivo or in vitro, ex vivo, of a human or animal body organ, tissue or region or of a biological sample, including cells, biological fluids and biological tissues originating from a live mammal patient, and preferably, human patient, by use of the MRI technique.
  • a further aspect of the invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition for diagnostic use comprising a compound of formula (I) in the form of paramagnetic metal complex or, when appropriate, (i.e. when the complex is with a bivalent paramagnetic metal ion), of a pharmaceutical salt thereof, in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable excipients, diluents or solvents.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is a contrast-producing composition and, more preferably, a MRI contrast producing composition comprising at least one Gd-complex according to the invention.
  • the invention relates to a MRI contrast medium comprising an effective amount of at least one chelated compound according to the invention and, especially, of a gadolinium complex of the formula (I) in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, diluents or solvents.
  • the term “effective amount” or “effective dose”, as used herein, refers to any amount of a paramagnetic chelated complex of the formula (I) according to the invention or pharmaceutical composition thereof, that is sufficient to fulfil its intended diagnostic purpose(s): i.e., for example, to ex vivo visualize a biological element including cells, biological fluids and biological tissues, or for the in vivo diagnostic imaging of body organs, tissues or regions of a patient.
  • suitable dosage of the paramagnetic complexes according to the invention i.e. allowing to obtain a diagnostically effective visualization of the body organ, tissue or region at least comparable to that obtained in the daily practice with the MRI contrast agents of the market, may include an amount of the paramagnetic complex lower than that currently used with Non-Specific contrast agents of the market.
  • satisfactory diagnostic MRI images may be obtained with doses of the gadolinium complex compounds identified by the present invention of about 80%, more preferably 70%, and up to 50% of the dose of MRI contrast agent used in the daily practice, which for adult patients commonly is of about 0.1 mmol/kg of patient body weight.
  • paramagnetic complex compounds of formula (I) identified by the present invention have a wide range of applications as they can be used for intravasal, (for instance intravenous, intraarterial, intracoronaric, intraventricular administration and the like), intrathecal, intraperitoneal, intralymphatic and intracavital administrations. Furthermore, they are suitable for the oral or parenteral administration and, therefore, specifically for the imaging of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • parenteral administration can be preferably formulated as sterile aqueous solutions or suspensions, whose pH can range from 6.0 to 8.5.
  • formulations can be lyophilized and supplied as they are, to be reconstituted before use.
  • these agents can be formulated as a solution or suspension optionally containing suitable excipients in order, for example, to control viscosity.
  • the oral administration they can be formulated according to preparation methods routinely used in the pharmaceutical technique or as coated formulations to gain additional protection against the stomach acidic pH thus preventing, in case of chelated metal ions, their release which may take place particularly at the typical pH values of gastric fluids.
  • excipients for example including sweeteners and/or flavouring agents, can also be added, according to known techniques of pharmaceutical formulations.
  • solutions or suspensions of the compounds of this invention can also be formulated as aerosol to be used in aerosol-bronchography and instillation.
  • liposomes can be also encapsulated into liposomes or even constitute the liposomes themselves, as set forth above, and thus can be used as uni- or multi-lamellar vesicles.
  • compositions according to the invention are properly formulated in isotonic sterile aqueous, optionally buffered, solutions for parenteral administration, and most preferably for intravenous or intra-arterial administration.
  • the said diagnostic composition has a concentration of the paramagnetic complex of the formula (I) of from 0.002 and 1.0 M and is supplied, for instance as a bolus, or as two or more doses separated in time, or as a constant or non-linear flow infusion.
  • the invention relates to the use of a pharmaceutical composition including a paramagnetic chelated complex of the formula (I) or, when appropriate, a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, for the diagnostic imaging, both in vitro (ex vivo) and in vivo, of pathological systems, including cells, biological fluids and biological tissues originating from a live mammal patient, and preferably, human patient, as well as of human body organ, regions or tissues, including tumors or cancerous tissues, inflammations, as well as for monitoring the progress and results of therapeutic treatment of the said pathologies.
  • a pharmaceutical composition including a paramagnetic chelated complex of the formula (I) or, when appropriate, a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof, for the diagnostic imaging, both in vitro (ex vivo) and in vivo, of pathological systems, including cells, biological fluids and biological tissues originating from a live mammal patient, and preferably, human patient, as well as of human body organ, regions or tissues, including tumors or cancerous tissues, inflammations, as well as for monitoring the progress
  • the present invention concerns a method for the in vivo imaging of a body organ, tissue or region by use of the MRI technique, said method comprises enhancing the signal generated by the water protons by use of a paramagnetic chelated complex of the formula (I) according to the invention, or (when appropriate) a physiological acceptable salt thereof.
  • said method comprises administering to a human or animal patient to be imaged a diagnostically effective amount of a composition of the invention comprising a compound of formula (I) in the form of complex with a paramagnetic metal ion, and, preferably, with the Gd 3+ metal ion and then subjecting the administered patient to the diagnostic imaging by use of the MRI technique.
  • the above MRI method is instead performed on human or animal bodies suitably pre-administered with a diagnostically effective amount of a composition of the invention as above defined.
  • the present invention refers to a method for the in vivo imaging a human or animal body organ or tissue by use of the MRI technique that comprises the steps of:
  • composition of the invention comprising a compound of formula (I) in the form of a paramagnetic complex, or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and positioned in a MRI imaging system, to a radiation frequency selected to excite the non-zero proton spin nuclei of the active paramagnetic substrate;
  • the invention provides a method for the in vitro (ex vivo) imaging of biological samples, including cells, biological fluids and biological tissues originating from a live mammal patient, and preferably, human patient, by use of the MRI technique, that comprises contacting an effective amount of a paramagnetic complex compound of formula (I), or of a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, with the biological sample of interest and then obtaining MRI signals from said samples by use of the MRI technique.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (15.2 g; 11 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated.
  • Ligand 5 (5 g; 5.2 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (3.87 g; 10.4 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (5.2 g). Yield 79%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 6 (8 g; 6.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (20 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining the ligand 7 (5.3 g). Yield 84%.
  • Ligand 7 (4.5 g; 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (3.35 g; 9 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (4.4 g). Yield 75%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (9 g; 6 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (25 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining compound 4 (5.9 g). Yield 83%.
  • Ligand 5 (5 g; 4.6 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (3.42 g; 9.2 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (5.6 g). Yield 87%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (6.75 g; 5 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (25 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 4 (4.1 g). Yield 81%.
  • Ligand 4 (5 g; 4.9 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (3.64 g; 9.8 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (5.2 g). Yield 80%.
  • Methanesulfonyl chloride (2.52 g; 22 mmol) was slowly added to a solution of compound 1 (prepared e.g. as disclosed in EP 1854792) (9 g; 20 mmol) and Et 3 N (3 mL) in dichloromethane (100 mL) and the solution was stirred for 18 h. The reaction mixture was extracted with water (3 ⁇ 100 mL). The organic phase was evaporated to give compound 2 that was directly used for the next reaction without any further purification. Quantitative yield.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of compound 4 (7.95 g; 5 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (25 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining compound 5 (5.45 g). Yield 87%.
  • Ligand 6 (4 g; 3.7 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.75 g; 7.4 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (4.6 g). Yield 89%.
  • Methanesulfonyl chloride (3.5 g; 30 mmol) was slowly added to a solution of compound 1 (prepared e.g. as described in WO2016/193748) (8.9 g; 30 mmol) and Et 3 N (5 mL) in dichloromethane (200 mL) and the solution was stirred for 18 h. The reaction mixture was extracted with water (3 ⁇ 200 mL). The organic phase was evaporated to give compound 2 that was directly used for the next reaction without any further purification. Quantitative yield.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (15 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 4 (10 g; 7 mmol) in dichloromethane (80 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 5 (6.5 g). Yield 84%.
  • Ligand 5 (5.5 g; 5 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (3.7 g; 10 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (6.2 g). Yield 88%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (8.8 g; 5 mmol) in dichloromethane (60 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining compound 4 (6.4 g). Yield 90%.
  • Ligand 5 (4.2 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (4.9 g). Yield 90%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 6 (7.3 g; 5 mmol) in dichloromethane (60 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 7 (5.4 g). Yield 95%.
  • Ligand 7 (4.5 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (4.8 g). Yield 83%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (9 g; 6 mmol) in dichloromethane (60 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 4 (6.5 g). Yield 94%.
  • Ligand 4 (4.6 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (5.1 g). Yield 87%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (15 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (16.5 g; 8 mmol) in dichloromethane (120 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.2 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining compound 4 (12.4 g). Yield 90%.
  • Ligand 5 (5.46 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (6 g). Yield 90%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (15 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (14 g; 8 mmol) in dichloromethane (120 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.2 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 4 (10.7 g). Yield 94%.
  • Ligand 4 (5.7 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (6.4 g). Yield 92%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (20 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (24 g; 10 mmol) in dichloromethane (150 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (70 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.2 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining compound 4 (18.1 g). Yield 88%.
  • Ligand 5 (5.35 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added, then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (6.2 g). Yield 94%.
  • Trifluoroacetic acid (10 mL) was added to a solution of intermediate 3 (7.8 g; 5 mmol) in dichloromethane (60 mL). The mixture stirred for 30 min then was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in TFA (50 mL) and triisopropylsilane (0.1 mL) was added. The obtained mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature then evaporated and the residue purified by chromatography on Amberlite XE 750 column (eluent: gradient of water/MeCN) obtaining ligand 4 (5.6 g). Yield 92%.
  • Ligand 4 (4.9 g; 4 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 mL), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (2.97 g; 8 mmol) was added then 1M NaOH was added to achieve pH 7. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The solution was then filtered on Millipore HA 0.25 ⁇ m filters and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on Amberchrome CG161M column (eluent: gradient of water/acetonitrile). The fractions containing the pure product were pooled and evaporated. The solid product was dried under vacuum to obtain the gadolinium complex as a white powder (5.19 g). Yield 85%.
  • the relaxometric properties of some representative complex compounds according to the invention have been determined at different magnetic field strengths, e.g. including 0.47 and 1.41 T, at 37° C., in human plasma and compared with relaxivity values measured, at the same conditions, for some Gd-complex of the market having an analogous cyclic coordination cage.
  • test articles were used as supplied and diluted in the selected medium (human plasma) by weighting the required amount of paramagnetic chelated complex to get a starting solution of 5 or 10 mM concentration in gadolinium.
  • Relaxivity measurements were performed at 0.47 T and 1.41 T at a preset temperature sample of 37° C., kept constant by means of a thermostatic bath connected to the sample holder of the spectrometer. The five sample solutions have been preliminary pre-heated at 37° C. in an external thermostatic bath and then left 10 minutes inside the internal bath to assure the stabilization of the temperature.
  • Longitudinal relaxation time T 1 was measured by means of a standard inversion recovery sequence, where the inversion time (TI) was varied from 10 ms to at least 5 times T 1 in 15 steps.
  • Statistical analysis mono-exponential fitting for T 1 measurement, linear fitting for the evaluation of longitudinal relaxivity was performed by Mathematica® (Wolfram, USA). Errors on the estimated parameters were evaluated by the fitting procedure.
  • the relaxivity values r 1p of some representative compounds according to the invention, obtained in human plasma at 37° C., are summarized in the following Table A, together with the structure of tested compounds and the strength of the applied magnetic field (in T), and compared with corresponding values measured for two commercial contrast agents in clinical practice having a macrocyclic chelating cage.
  • relaxivity data and hence including those of the table below, are expressed in terms of gadolinium concentration.
  • the relaxivity of the investigated contrast agents ranges between 4.9 (for ProHance) and 12.1 mM ⁇ 1 s ⁇ 1 (for chelate complex 2 and chelate complex 9) at 0.47 T, in plasma, at the same mM Gd 3+ concentration.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
US16/468,035 2016-12-12 2017-12-11 Dimeric contrast agents Active US10793533B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EPPCT/EP2016/080621 2016-12-12
WOPCT/EP2016/080621 2016-12-12
PCT/EP2016/080621 WO2017098044A1 (fr) 2015-12-10 2016-12-12 Agents de contraste dimériques
EP17174473.3 2017-06-06
EP17174473 2017-06-06
EP17174473 2017-06-06
PCT/EP2017/082153 WO2018108780A1 (fr) 2016-12-12 2017-12-11 Agents de contraste dimériques

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20200017453A1 US20200017453A1 (en) 2020-01-16
US10793533B2 true US10793533B2 (en) 2020-10-06

Family

ID=59009620

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16/468,035 Active US10793533B2 (en) 2016-12-12 2017-12-11 Dimeric contrast agents

Country Status (12)

Country Link
US (1) US10793533B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP3551614B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP7145156B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR20190091441A (fr)
CN (1) CN109963838B (fr)
AU (1) AU2017375728B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR112019011123B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA3037803A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2899033T3 (fr)
HU (1) HUE056114T2 (fr)
IL (1) IL265680B (fr)
WO (1) WO2018108780A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20230391735A1 (en) * 2020-12-04 2023-12-07 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Manufacturing process for preparing gadoteridol

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3101012A1 (fr) 2015-06-04 2016-12-07 Bayer Pharma Aktiengesellschaft Nouveaux composés de chélate de gadolinium pour une utilisation dans l'imagerie par résonance magnétique
ES2814555T3 (es) 2016-11-28 2021-03-29 Bayer Pharma AG Compuestos de quelato de gadolinio con alta relaxividad para usar en la obtención de imágenes por resonancia magnética
AU2019382881A1 (en) 2018-11-23 2021-05-20 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Formulation of contrast media and process of preparation thereof
WO2021116165A1 (fr) 2019-12-13 2021-06-17 Bracco Imaging Spa Fabrication de do3a protégé

Citations (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4647447A (en) 1981-07-24 1987-03-03 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Diagnostic media
EP0230893A2 (fr) 1986-01-30 1987-08-05 BRACCO INDUSTRIA CHIMICA Società per Azioni Chelates paramagnétiques
US4885363A (en) 1987-04-24 1989-12-05 E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc. 1-substituted-1,4,7-triscarboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane and analogs
US5132409A (en) 1987-01-12 1992-07-21 Bracco Industria Chimica S.P.A. Macrocyclic chelating agents and chelates thereof
EP0512661A1 (fr) 1991-05-10 1992-11-11 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Polymère-complexants macrocycliques, leur complexes, procédé pour leur préparation et agents pharmaceutiques les contenant
US5277895A (en) 1990-11-08 1994-01-11 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Mono-n-substituted 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane derivatives, process for their production and pharmaceutical agents containing these derivatives
WO1995009848A2 (fr) 1990-01-19 1995-04-13 Nycomed Salutar, Inc. Polyazacycloalcanes utilises comme agents dichelatants
EP0872479A1 (fr) 1997-04-18 1998-10-21 BRACCO S.p.A. Complexes chélatées des métaux paramagnétiques ayant une toxicité basse
WO1998048844A2 (fr) 1997-04-29 1998-11-05 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Paires d'ions, procede permettant de les preparer et leur utilisation comme agents de contraste
WO1998056775A1 (fr) 1997-06-11 1998-12-17 Bracco S.P.A. Procede pour la preparation de chelateurs macrocycliques et chelates de ces derniers avec des ions metalliques paramagnetiques
US5980864A (en) 1990-03-19 1999-11-09 Schering Aktiengellsellschaft 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane butyltriols, processes for their production and pharmaceutical agents containing them
DE19849465A1 (de) 1998-10-21 2000-04-27 Schering Ag Dimere Ionenpaare, Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung und ihre Verwendung als Kontrastmittel
DE10117242C1 (de) 2001-04-06 2002-05-16 Schering Ag Unsymmetrische dimere Metallkomplexe, Liganden für diese Metallkomplexe, Verfahren zu deren Herstellung, Arzneimittel bzw. Diagnosemittel, die die Metallkomplexe enthalten, insbesondere Kontrastmittel
WO2006002874A1 (fr) 2004-07-02 2006-01-12 Bracco Imaging Spa Agents de contraste doues d'un grand pouvoir de relaxivite, utilisables en imagerie par resonance magnetique (irm) et contenant un fragment de chelation de l'acide 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclodecan-1,4,7-triacetique comportant des substituants polyhydroxyles
US7208140B2 (en) 2003-02-19 2007-04-24 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Trimeric macrocyclic substituted benzene derivatives
EP1854792A1 (fr) 2005-02-22 2007-11-14 Chugai Seiyaku Kabushiki Kaisha Dérivé de 1-(2h)-isoquinolone
WO2008126034A2 (fr) 2007-04-11 2008-10-23 Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd Antibiotiques à base d'oxazolidinone
US20110177002A1 (en) * 2008-07-18 2011-07-21 Bayer Schering Pharma Aktiengesellschaft Cylic polyamines for binding phosphatidylserine
CN102727911A (zh) * 2012-07-09 2012-10-17 中国科学院长春应用化学研究所 双氨基聚乙二醇修饰的顺磁性金属配合物磁共振成像造影剂
US20130296539A1 (en) 2012-05-07 2013-11-07 Kumar Ranjan Bhushan Magnetic resonance imaging agents for calcification
US20140086846A1 (en) 2012-09-26 2014-03-27 General Electric Company Contrast enhancement agents and method of use thereof
EP2842940A1 (fr) 2012-03-09 2015-03-04 Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) Composés dérivés de sulforaphane, procédé d'obtention et son utilisation médicale, alimentaire et cosmétique
US20150065711A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-03-05 Equip, Llc Discrete PEG Constructs
WO2016193748A1 (fr) 2015-06-03 2016-12-08 The University Of Birmingham Composition
WO2017098044A1 (fr) 2015-12-10 2017-06-15 Bracco Imaging Spa Agents de contraste dimériques
US20180362476A1 (en) 2015-12-10 2018-12-20 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Contrast agents

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3625417C2 (de) * 1986-07-28 1998-10-08 Schering Ag Tetraazacyclododecan-Derivate
KR102030575B1 (ko) * 2016-06-08 2019-10-10 후아웨이 테크놀러지 컴퍼니 리미티드 부품 및 전자 장치

Patent Citations (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4647447A (en) 1981-07-24 1987-03-03 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Diagnostic media
EP0230893A2 (fr) 1986-01-30 1987-08-05 BRACCO INDUSTRIA CHIMICA Società per Azioni Chelates paramagnétiques
US4916246A (en) 1986-01-30 1990-04-10 Bracco Chimica S.P.A. Paramagnetic chelates useful for NMR imaging
US5132409A (en) 1987-01-12 1992-07-21 Bracco Industria Chimica S.P.A. Macrocyclic chelating agents and chelates thereof
US4885363A (en) 1987-04-24 1989-12-05 E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc. 1-substituted-1,4,7-triscarboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane and analogs
WO1995009848A2 (fr) 1990-01-19 1995-04-13 Nycomed Salutar, Inc. Polyazacycloalcanes utilises comme agents dichelatants
US5980864A (en) 1990-03-19 1999-11-09 Schering Aktiengellsellschaft 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane butyltriols, processes for their production and pharmaceutical agents containing them
US5277895A (en) 1990-11-08 1994-01-11 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Mono-n-substituted 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane derivatives, process for their production and pharmaceutical agents containing these derivatives
US5876698A (en) 1991-05-10 1999-03-02 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Macrocyclic polymer complexing agents, their complexes, process for their production and pharmaceutical agents containing these compounds
EP0512661A1 (fr) 1991-05-10 1992-11-11 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Polymère-complexants macrocycliques, leur complexes, procédé pour leur préparation et agents pharmaceutiques les contenant
US6149890A (en) 1997-04-18 2000-11-21 Dibra S.P.A. Chelated complexes of paramagnetic metals with low toxicity
EP0872479A1 (fr) 1997-04-18 1998-10-21 BRACCO S.p.A. Complexes chélatées des métaux paramagnétiques ayant une toxicité basse
WO1998048844A2 (fr) 1997-04-29 1998-11-05 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Paires d'ions, procede permettant de les preparer et leur utilisation comme agents de contraste
WO1998056775A1 (fr) 1997-06-11 1998-12-17 Bracco S.P.A. Procede pour la preparation de chelateurs macrocycliques et chelates de ces derniers avec des ions metalliques paramagnetiques
DE19849465A1 (de) 1998-10-21 2000-04-27 Schering Ag Dimere Ionenpaare, Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung und ihre Verwendung als Kontrastmittel
DE10117242C1 (de) 2001-04-06 2002-05-16 Schering Ag Unsymmetrische dimere Metallkomplexe, Liganden für diese Metallkomplexe, Verfahren zu deren Herstellung, Arzneimittel bzw. Diagnosemittel, die die Metallkomplexe enthalten, insbesondere Kontrastmittel
US7208140B2 (en) 2003-02-19 2007-04-24 Schering Aktiengesellschaft Trimeric macrocyclic substituted benzene derivatives
WO2006002874A1 (fr) 2004-07-02 2006-01-12 Bracco Imaging Spa Agents de contraste doues d'un grand pouvoir de relaxivite, utilisables en imagerie par resonance magnetique (irm) et contenant un fragment de chelation de l'acide 1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclodecan-1,4,7-triacetique comportant des substituants polyhydroxyles
EP1854792A1 (fr) 2005-02-22 2007-11-14 Chugai Seiyaku Kabushiki Kaisha Dérivé de 1-(2h)-isoquinolone
WO2008126034A2 (fr) 2007-04-11 2008-10-23 Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd Antibiotiques à base d'oxazolidinone
US20110177002A1 (en) * 2008-07-18 2011-07-21 Bayer Schering Pharma Aktiengesellschaft Cylic polyamines for binding phosphatidylserine
EP2842940A1 (fr) 2012-03-09 2015-03-04 Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) Composés dérivés de sulforaphane, procédé d'obtention et son utilisation médicale, alimentaire et cosmétique
US20130296539A1 (en) 2012-05-07 2013-11-07 Kumar Ranjan Bhushan Magnetic resonance imaging agents for calcification
CN102727911A (zh) * 2012-07-09 2012-10-17 中国科学院长春应用化学研究所 双氨基聚乙二醇修饰的顺磁性金属配合物磁共振成像造影剂
US20140086846A1 (en) 2012-09-26 2014-03-27 General Electric Company Contrast enhancement agents and method of use thereof
US20150065711A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-03-05 Equip, Llc Discrete PEG Constructs
WO2016193748A1 (fr) 2015-06-03 2016-12-08 The University Of Birmingham Composition
WO2017098044A1 (fr) 2015-12-10 2017-06-15 Bracco Imaging Spa Agents de contraste dimériques
US20180362476A1 (en) 2015-12-10 2018-12-20 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Contrast agents
US20180362511A1 (en) 2015-12-10 2018-12-20 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Dimeric contrast agents

Non-Patent Citations (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Bechara, G. et al . "Polyazamacrocycles based on a tetraaminoacetate moiety and a (poly)pyridine intracyclic unit: direct synthesis and application to the photosensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions in aqueous solutions," Tetrahedron 2010 66:8594-8604.
Bordunov et al., "Synthesis of New Pyridinoazacrown Ethers Containing Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Proton Ionizable Substituents" J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 6097-6102.
Caravan et al., "Gadolinium (III) Chelates as MRI Contrast Agents: Structure, Dynamics, and Applications," Chem. Rev. 1999, 99, 2293-2352.
Douglass, et al., "Intramolecular Hydrophosphination/Cyclization of Phosphinoalkenes and Phosphinoalkynes Catalyzed by Organolanthanides: Scope, Selectivity, and Mechanism" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 10221-10238.
Formanovsky, et al., "One Stage Monosubstitution in Cyclen-Two Novel Examples" Synthetic Communications, 1996 26(8), 1595-1603.
Fukase, K. et al "Oligosaccharide Synthesis by Affinity Separation Based on Molecular Recognition between Podand Ether and Ammonium Ion" SYNLETT, 15:2342-2346 (2005).
Fulton D. et al, "Efficient relaxivity enhancement in dendritic gadolinium complexes: effective motional coupling in medium molecular weight conjugates," Chem. Comm. 2005, 474-476.
Gartiser, T. et al. "Reduction d'azides en amines par le formiate d'ammonium par transfert d'hydrogene catalyse (CTH)," Tetrahedron Lett., 24:1609-1610 (1983) (English Abstract).
Geant et al., "Highly Enantioselective Access to α-Dibenzylamino Ketones from Chiral Nonracemic α-Bromo α′-Sulfinyl Ketones by Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: Synthesis of (2R,1′S)-2[1-(Dibenzylamino)alkyl]oxiranes" Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2011, 1300-1309.
Glogard, et al., "Novel radical-responsive MRI contrast agent based on paramagnetic liposomes" Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry 2003, vol. 41, 585-588.
Greene et al. (Eds.), Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Chapter 5, pp. 152-179 (1981).
Greene et al. (Eds.), Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Chapter 7, pp. 494-653 (1999).
Hovland et al., "Gadolinium DO3A derivatives mimicking phospholipids; preparation and in vitro evaluation as pH responsive MRI contrast agents" J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 2, 2001; 929-933.
Lee, et al., "Viscosities of Poly(ethylene glycols)," J. Chem. Eng. Data, 35:385-387 (1990).
Maeda et al., "Intramolecular Cyclization of N,N-di(oligooxyethylene)amines: A New Synthesis of Monoaza Crown Ethers" Tetrahedron 1982, vol. 38, No. 22, 3359-3362.
Manning et al., "Expeditious synthesis of 'P'-protected macrocycles en route to lanthanide chelate metal complexes" Tetrahedron Letters 46, (2005) 4707-4710.
Manning et al., "Expeditious synthesis of ‘P’-protected macrocycles en route to lanthanide chelate metal complexes" Tetrahedron Letters 46, (2005) 4707-4710.
Moore, "Selective Trialkylation of Cyclen with tert-Butyl Bromoacetate [1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid, Tri-tert-butyl Ester Hydrobromide]" Org. Synth. 2008, 85,10-14.
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/EP2016/080592, dated Jan. 23, 2017.
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/EP2016/080621, dated Feb. 7, 2017.
PCT Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/EP2017/082153, dated Mar. 15, 2018.
Pinsker et al., "A Highly Efficient Type I β-Turn Mimetic Simulating an Asx-Pro-Turn-Like Structure." Organic Letters 2011; vol. 13, No. 13: 3502-3505.
Placidi, et al., "Aryl-phosphonate lanthanide complexes and their fluorinated derivatives: investigation of their unusual relaxometric behavior and potential application as dual frequency 1H/19F MRI probes" Chem. Eur. J. 2013, 19, 11644-11660.
Pubchem Entry for 6-bromohexane-1 ,2,3,4,5-pentol.
Suthagar, K. et al, "Synthesis of arabinose glycosyl sulfamides as potential inhibitors of mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis," Eur. J. Med. Chem., 102:153-166 (2015).
Tei, et al., "Thermodynamic stability, kinetic inertness, and relaxometric properties of monoamide derivatives of lanthanide(III) DOTA complexes" Dalton Transactions, 2015 vol. 44, 5467-5478.
Wyatt, et al., "An enantioselective synthesis of (R)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethylphosphonic acid by hydrolytic kinetic resolution of (±)-diethyl oxiranephosphonate" Tetrahedron Letters 40 (1999) 6481-6483.
Yuan et al., "Studies on Organophosphorus Compounds 91: A Novel Synthesis of 1-Hydrazinoalkylphosphonic Acids and Derivatives Thereof" 1996, 507-510.

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20230391735A1 (en) * 2020-12-04 2023-12-07 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Manufacturing process for preparing gadoteridol
US11905257B2 (en) * 2020-12-04 2024-02-20 Bracco Imaging S.P.A. Manufacturing process for preparing gadoteridol

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR112019011123A2 (pt) 2019-10-01
IL265680A (en) 2019-05-30
EP3551614B1 (fr) 2021-08-25
CA3037803A1 (fr) 2018-06-21
IL265680B (en) 2021-03-25
HUE056114T2 (hu) 2022-01-28
KR20190091441A (ko) 2019-08-06
CN109963838A (zh) 2019-07-02
CN109963838B (zh) 2023-04-11
EP3551614A1 (fr) 2019-10-16
BR112019011123B1 (pt) 2024-02-06
JP7145156B2 (ja) 2022-09-30
JP2020500917A (ja) 2020-01-16
ES2899033T3 (es) 2022-03-09
WO2018108780A1 (fr) 2018-06-21
US20200017453A1 (en) 2020-01-16
AU2017375728A1 (en) 2019-04-11
AU2017375728B2 (en) 2021-05-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11401262B2 (en) Dimeric contrast agents
US11021451B2 (en) Contrast agents
US10793533B2 (en) Dimeric contrast agents
US11007283B2 (en) Contrast agents
EP3386953B1 (fr) Produits de contraste
NZ741900B2 (en) Dimeric contrast agents

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BRACCO IMAGING S.P.A., ITALY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BOI, VALERIA;NAPOLITANO, ROBERTA;LATTUADA, LUCIANO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:049416/0639

Effective date: 20171219

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: AWAITING TC RESP, ISSUE FEE PAYMENT RECEIVED

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

CC Certificate of correction
MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4